Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) Review
6:41 AM
Life finds a way.
I fell in love with Jurassic World in 2015; it was one of my favourite films of that year and I couldn't wait for the sequel. While Fallen Kingdom does not beat its predecessor, it comes close. However, my enjoyment was lessened due to my fellow audience members: cinema staff had to tell three different people to stop using their phone (including a tween sat directly in front of me), kids were providing a running commentary and were constantly leaving to go to the toilet. Fallen Kingdom is a fairly unsettling film, but this crowd seemed incapable of actually settling down to watch it. I will definitely be planning a second trip to see Fallen Kingdom as I spent a large part of the film wanting to leave.
Jurassic World followed a very similar narrative structure to Jurassic Park - it relied heavily on nostalgia and paying homage to iconic moments. Jurassic World was necessary to set up this sequel and likely third installment. Thankfully, Fallen Kingdom does not mimic Jurassic Park: The Lost Work. Although similar events happen, this entry feels a lot less dumb and more sophisticated. There are plenty of "Run!" moments in this film and one "Welcome to Jurassic World" but other than that, Bayona, Trevorrow, and Connolly take the franchise into a new, clear and distinct direction. The score by Michael Giacchino is original but fits well with the franchise. The iconic theme tune is hinted at throughout the film and it is very satisfying when the whole piece eventually plays.
Fallen Kingdom could be critiqued for its complex and busy narrative. The film essentially tells two stories: the fall of Isla Nublar and the rise of Dino-auctioning. Trevorrow and Connolly transition from the first narrative to the second well; the second feels like a natural and realistic result of the first. The 130-minute run-time flies by because there is so much going on. Both halves of the film are equally entertaining but they do differ in tone; the first half is in-line with the tone of Trevorrow's Jurassic World and the second half is darker and scarier courtesy of J.A Bayona. Stay away from the film's marketing though because the first half is summarised in the trailers and therefore may not excite viewers.
Fallen Kingdom begins with a terrific opening sequence. It sees Wheatley's crew retrieve a bone from the Indominus Rex. Obviously, things do not end well but this sequence sets the theme of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom - so many people are going to die. The film then switches to Claire (Dallas Howard) where she leads an animal rights activist group. It did feel a little silly seeing fictional protests about dinosaur rights, especially in today's world. I do not think the filmmakers intended to minimise any actual social movements. It does not take long for Claire to reunite with Owen (Pratt) and convince him to join the rescue mission. Fallen Kingdom moves at a fast pace - unlike Solo, this does not make the film feel one-dimensional and thinly written. The group is soon separated (warning sign!) and the scenes that follow are tense but also really fun. The reveal that the entire mission was a set-up is unsurprising because it was revealed in the trailer. The island's volcano begins to erupt and while the lava looked a little too CGI for my liking, the stakes were genuinely high for both the humans and the dinos. The scene where Claire and Franklin (Smith) are trapped in the gyrosphere underwater was especially unnerving; it felt like a Mission: Impossible sequence. There is a heart-breaking moment when the brachiosaurus gets left behind. J.A. Bayona cleverly creates a connection to this dino when the characters (and the audience) first return to the island. In retrospect, this is even more upsetting because all of the surviving dinos are set free whereas the brachiosaurus faces extinction. The film's first half is action-packed, thrilling and ends on an emotional note.
The second half of the film is where J.A. Bayona comes into his own. The plot slows right down but the pace is still fast because there is so much going on. Fallen Kingdom almost turns into a home invasion movie towards the end as Claire, Owen, and Maisie (Sermon) are hunted by the Indoraptor. There are a slew of tense moments where the characters are inches away from being killed. Bayona is not afraid to take this film to the darkest of places - although it only happens to the unlikeable and villainous characters, some of the killings are brutal and graphic - a man loses an arm! Bayona utilises shadows well; a notable example is when the shadow of a rocking horse is actually the shadow of the Indoraptor. Although I prefer Jurassic World, Bayona certainly infuses more style and creative imagery into this franchise with Fallen Kingdom. He said he wanted to make a Jurassic horror movie and I think he succeeds (it is always scary in a fun way though). Fallen Kingdom leaves the audience wanting more. The ending is satisfying and what I think most people will be hoping for. The only problem is that it will be hard for the third film to refrain from being dumb, stupid and silly and things could easily get out of hand. Although it is a transition film, Fallen Kingdom is worth your time as it lays the groundwork for something bigger.
The narrative is engaging and entertaining, but how are the beloved characters handled? Neither Claire or Owen experience a character arc or are developed further. This shows that the characters were established well enough in Jurassic World that they do not feel like walking cardboard cutouts in the sequel. Claire is reintroduced to the audience, first with her infamous heels and then with the franchise's infamous product placement. Bryce Dallas Howard continues to be fantastic and likable in her role. The script tries to bench Claire numerous times during action sequences, but she always finds a way to still contribute and be heroic. Bryce Dallas Howard struggles outside of this franchise, but Claire is her career-defining role and a staple of the Jurassic series. Clare and Owen truly are the founding parents of the 'Jurassic World'. As for Owen, Chris Pratt continues to prove that he is a movie star. Pratt does have one 'intended-to-be' comedic scene that fell completely flat for me and actually made me cringe (when he wakes up from being sedated). Other than this small blip, Pratt is great. Pratt and Dallas Howard continue to have great chemistry and one of my favourite things about this film is seeing their characters become even more intimate (marry each other!). They're a great duo.
Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard give the best performances. The supporting cast is not as impressive. Jake Johnson made a big impression in Jurassic World and quickly became a fan-favourite. The writers have created a new character in a blatant attempt to fill that gap. Justice Smith's Franklin is the worst character in this film. Smith/Franklin is more annoying than the younger actors. There was a scene where Franklin was in genuine danger and I hoped he would be the dino's next victim. Smith's performance is cringe-worthy, forced and unfunny. They should have found a way to bring Jake Johnson's Lowery back. Isabella Sermon is more impressive than Smith and actually is not that annoying. Sermon has a terrific 'scared' face but she did overact at times. A twist reveals that Sermon's Maisie is a clone of Benjamin Lockwood's daughter. After it is revealed, it is never mentioned again; I hope the third film explores this further because it is truly twisted. Daniella Pineda is convincing as the spunky geek. None of the antagonists give truly wicked performances but I suppose the real monsters in this franchise are the dinosaurs.
The dinosaurs do not disappoint. It was a clever idea to make Fallen Kingdom's genetically modified dino a combination of the two fan favourites from Jurassic World - in Indominus rex and Blue the raptor. The Indoraptor was terrifying! This creature proves that the big ones are not necessarily the scariest. Every dinosaur in this film is well realised - they look lifelike. Blue remains an audience favourite; how can such a deadly being be so adorable? The filmmakers also make an effort to further develop the relationship between Owen and Blue. The dinosaurs mean a lot to the characters in this film - the protagonists are fascinated by the previously extinct creatures whereas the antagonists are attracted to the financial benefits. The audience will be amazed by the dinosaurs too. There is a reason other films do not attempt to include dinosaurs...the Jurassic series would be too hard to compete with.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is not as good as its predecessor but it does come very close. Jurassic World is only superior because it ticked all of the boxes when it came to nostalgia. Fallen Kingdom is something new that is heading in an exciting (but possibly unmanageable) direction. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are excellent but it is only necessary to keep Isabella Sermon from the supporting cast. The visual effects are brilliant once again (although it does not look like they spent an extra $20 million on this one). The plot is segmented into two different narratives but they gel together so well. First half: exhilarating disaster movie with genuine stakes. Second half: thrilling and tense horror movie with genuine stakes. There are some dumb and silly moments that the filmmakers should minimalise in the third entry. Thrilling and entertaining, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is another impressive entry in the Jurassic franchise. This is what a satisfying summer blockbuster looks like.
75
/100
What did you think of JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM? Where will the franchise go next? - COMMENT BELOW
4 comments
ReplyDeleteCLICK HERE WATCH AND DOWNLOAD Full movie
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losmovies - I saw Jurassic Park when I was very little and it's always been my favorite movie. Not because of what a professional movie critic might say or what is considered "art" in Hollywood. I took my son to see Fallen Kingdom on opening night and we both absolutely loved it. It was exciting, scary, funny - all that a normal guy and his kid could ask for. Forget all these movie snobs on here giving this poor ratings and spending their entire day making lists of 10 things wrong with this movie that no real person would ever actually notice. It's a great movie.
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ReplyDeleteThe stories that can not use the potential are always in me. Jurassic Park has used the concept of theme park design, where things get out of control, and has taken its place among the classics with its effects beyond its time, especially with mechatronics techniques. Jurassic World has returned the series to the big screen when revisiting this park, except that it is full of the latest CG technology. Full HD Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Backgrounds The fallen Kingdom comes to us with a more serious matter. This time, people are in danger, not humans, dinosaurs. Dinosaurs that return to the world without asking questions, then lock them up to market them to tourists could die in the park / prison we have organized for them. The volcano rises on Nublar Island, where Jurassic World is located, and endangers the life of the dinosaurs on the island. After this situation, we exposed them to Asnanda, we should save the dinosaurs, or the nature of the right to intervene more in the flow of nature, as the question shows. I like that the film is based on this moral discussion. Full HD Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Wallpapers
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